How to Avoid Dry Scalp and Dry Skin in Winter

My white bear and winter products

Dry scalp and dry skin are major problems during the cold months in Japan. Dry scalp causes dandruff while dry skin can cause chafing. I never had a disturbing case of flaky scalp until I started living in Japan. My skin has never looked so dry, I could almost scratch the surface, until I came to Japan.

To avoid these overall dryness, here are the products I use. I find them effective in the previous cold seasons in Japan:

Japan, Brace for Vongfong!

Vongfong, the Perfect Storm
photo credit: High resolution infrared satellite image of Typhoon Vongfong on Tuesday via
The Washington Post

When it rains, it pours. 

This is literally what's about to happen in Japan. After a strong typhoon early this week, the most powerful typhoon of 2014 will hit Japan this weekend until early next week. Reports state that Vongfong (the incoming typhoon) will most likely pass the same track as Phanfone (the typhoon that passed). This means Vongfong might hit Hamamatsu before it slams to Tokyo and further north. The names Vongfong and Phanfone sound funny to me but their magnitude is no laughing matter.

How to Cure Falling Hair in the Fall

Covered Garden at Fruit Park in Hamamatsu

Did you know that not only leaves fall during autumn? Hair, do too! Women's hair, especially. Even animals shed their hair during this season. There are two explanations for this occurrence. First, the hair has a growth cycle. It's during the months of fall that new hair starts to grow so the older are shedded off. It's like how snakes lose their old skin. The second explanation is that the air is dryer. This makes the scalp lose some moisture causing hair fall.

So how to deal with falling hair in this season? Here are simple and inexpensive things you can do:

How to Send Money to the Philippines through GCASH

What is GCASH? 

GCASH is Globe's remittance service. You can send and receive money in and out of the Philippines. In Japan, GCASH is in partnership with Family Mart.

Why I use GCASH to send money? 

The rates are the most affordable (at least in Japan). You can send up to 100,000 JPY for only 1,350 JPY or 1,500 for Bank Transfer. These rates are lower than Western Union, JP Bank Transfers and SBI Remit.

Here's  their remittance fees:

Up to 10,000 Yen:  440 JPY
10,001- 30,000 Yen:  700JPY for money outlets and 800JPY for Bank Transfer
30,001-max amount: 1350 for money outlets and 1500 for Bank Transfer

Also, it's very convenient. You can do your transactions online at the comforts of your home. GCASH has SMS service that will notify the recipient.

GCASH also has an updated currency exchange rate so you'll know exactly how much you're sending in pesos.

For the recipients, they can receive the money in a few minutes through different banks in the country, Globe Centers in the malls and Villarica & Tambunting Pawnshops. GCASH boasts of having 18,000 outlets nationwide.

Personally, I haven't encountered any problem with GCASH's services so I'm highly recommending it.  

A. How to Open a GCASH account:

1. Register  your personal information on GCASH's website.

2. Wait for the passcode GCASH will send you through mail. You can even schedule the date and time of the delivery. 

3. Once you receive your passcode, login to GCASH website for verification. 

B. How to Send Your Remittance

1. Deposit the amount you want to send through Family Ports located at Family Mart Convenience Stores

2. Log-in to your GCASH account.

3. Find the REMITTANCE tab on the left side. 

4. Enter the recipient's information (name, address, telephone number, amount you want to send) Your account on GCASH saves the recipient's information. The next time you send money to the same person, there's no need to enter his personal information again. 

5. Click send and wait for confirmation in your email.

And that's how you send money the GCASH way!


What Remittance Service do you use? What do you like about it?

The Best 3 Things About Japan

For the nth time, a Japanese asked me what I like most about Japan.

And for the nth time, I said, "I like the cleanliness, the safety and the order." Always in that order.

Most of the time, those who asked me would agree as I elaborate. In this occasion, I got a curious response. He said, "Do you have an OCD?"  He then explained how OCD's are very much into cleaning, ensuring safety and being organized.

I haven't been diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder although I sometimes think I might have a mild case of it. All who have seen my apartment always say my place is neat. A lot of people are surprised when I tell them I have a planner showing hourly tasks. I'm time-conscious. I like following routines, making checklists and cutting my pancakes into equal parts. So do I have an OCD? I don't know.

Whether it's because of OCD or not, I love living in Japan because...

1. Japan is clean. 

I read somewhere that the best way to check how clean the air is, is to check the color of your dried snot. It may sound disgusting but I think it's true. When I was still in the Philippines, I'd always have dark snots after taking public transportation. Here in Japan, they're always lighter even if I'd cycled on the main roads. (I'm sure you're checking your snot now.) Lighter snots mean cleaner air.

Aside from me having lighter-colored snots, I'm also comfortable using public toilets. I can even do number 2 because there's always tissue papers. And toilet bowls always flush.

On a less disgusting note, streets in Japan are free from trash and smoke-belchers. Parks are well-maintained. Rivers look swimmable and fish-able. Bus and train terminals are presentable. Even narrow dark alleys do not seem that dark. They also don't smell like urine.

2. Japan is safe.

It's only when I started living in Japan that I can safely take out my phone and wallet without fear of being robbed. I can go to the convenience store in the middle of the night without checking my back.

Once I left my iPhone at a public toilet. It was still there when I come to get it. I can visit places alone. My sole problem would be to ensure I'm taking the right train. I can leave my bicycle anywhere as long as it's parked on the right spot. (Otherwise, the bicycle police would get it.)

Even when my phone rings for tsunami and earthquake alerts, I still feel relatively safe since it also give directions to the nearest evacuation center. I could go on and on why I think Japan is safe. I'll just stop here.

I heard a story of a young man who lived in Japan for several months. On the day he returned to New York, he was mugged. He mentioned how he got so used to the safety in Japan, he forgot how unsafe other places are.

3. Japan is organized. 

Japan is heaven for me because trains and buses are on time. I also like how people stay on one side of the escalator and how people fall in line to board the bus and trains. When there's an ongoing construction, a bunch of uniformed people help traffic the roads.

I like the little bells in restaurants to call servers so I don't have to raise my hand or incline my head or even raise my voice. I also come to appreciate the calorie count of each dish in the menu.

Whenever a big festival is happening, I appreciate how the police anticipates the traffic flow easing what could be chaos. I attended a festival in Kobe where we had to walk for about an hour because the police made a circuitous route to hold the crowd. It was inconvenient for us but I had to give it to them for that smart but simple idea.

I'm impressed with how well elementary and junior high schools are coordinated to accommodate students in their areas. I even like the similar school bell sound all over Japan. (Watch an anime with a school setting and you'll hear it too)


Are my reasons for appreciating cleanliness, safety and order here because of OCD? I don't really think so. It's a simple case of appreciating something my place back home lack. I was just considering the best things in my daily life here. Cause really, who wouldn't love cleaner snots?



How about you, what's the best things about where you live? I'd love to hear it!

7 Things to Do in Summer

It's almost summer! I'm soooo happy!

Except for the suffocating humidity, I love summers in Japan. First, I have a month-long vacation. (Actually, it's not really that long. I just feel like it's that long.) Second, my friends are also on vacation. Last, there are a lot of traditional things going on it's easy to fill my calendar. Because with these summer events, I've realized that about this time last year my entries have become far and between. I didn't find the time to write.

To make sure I'll write my summer experiences this year, I'll publish my list of activities. (This blog forces me to do things, I think.) Who knows, someone out there might want to join me this year. This list might also give you an idea of things to do this summer.

This summer, I will...

1. See the Lantern and Fireworks Festival in Kanzanji

Kanzanji Lantern and Fireworks Festival
photo credit: http://shizajet.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/shizuoka-hanabi-2011/

I saw a beautiful picture of my friends in this festival last year. The sight of a thousand lanterns was lovely. I was envious so I'll go this year. This would be on the last Sunday of July.

Lantern festivals are common in Japan during the summer. They coincide with the Obon season. Obon is a time when the dead spirits visit their families, according to Japanese belief. The lanterns are supposed to guide these spirits to their homes.There's also traditional dancing to entertain the dead. I leaned from an old Japanese man that they have to please the dead spirits so bad things won't befall on them. Interesting, I think.

If lanterns are not your thing, summer is the time for Hanabi or Fireworks Festival. Starting this month, there'll be fireworks festivals all over Japan almost every weekend. This would last until the last week of August. In Hamamatsu, the Bentenjima Fireworks Festival draws large crowds every year. Japan Guide has a schedule on the major fireworks festivals in Japan.

2. Watch a Sumo Competition

PHOTO CREDIT: http://blog.instagram.com/post/73775162513/ryogoku-kokugikan-2014

Japan's the only country that has a sumo tournament so might as well see it while I'm here. I've been planning to watch since last year but nobody wanted to go with me. The ticket prices are also expensive. Then I learned that one of my friends wanted to celebrate her 32nd birthday watching a sumo competition. Sumo tournaments happen every other month starting in January. However, they take place in different cities. My friend's lucky cause the Nagoya tournament happens in her birth month. It'll start in July 13 and ends in July 27. She's leaving Japan in August and this would be our last time together. This is a good reason to forget "EXPENSIVE" and just savor the remaining time with a good friend.

3. Go camping!

I enjoyed camping last year at Akiha so I'll do it again this year. It would be better if I can find a different camping ground. There's a campsite I've been wanting to visit- The Tatsuyama Campsite in the mountains but I need a car to get there. How will I have a ride is something I still have to  figure out. <cross fingers>

Japan's a safe country to go camping as long as what you do is within the bounds of common sense. It's easy to find camping sites even for the whole family. To find camping sites in your area, visit your local tourism office. In Hamamatsu, the Bentenjima camping grounds by Lake Hamana is accessible by JR Train.

4. Have a barbecue party by the river

The Keta River in Haruno

A friend invited me to join a BBQ party in August. It'll be in one of the rivers in Hamamatsu. I attended a few BBQ parties last summer and all of them are by the river. I guess, this is a popular summer activity in Japan. The river provides a cooling effect during the hot day. Fishing, sort-of-swimming and some feet dangling are usually allowed in most small rivers.

5. Assist in a Youth Camp

Summer is also the time for youth camps. My church will have one in the second week of August. I've had summers in my youth spent in Christian camps. This time, I won't be a camper anymore ( which means I'm getting older) but one of team leaders. I don't know any details yet except for the dates.

In Japan, language schools also offer English camps to young people. Some ALT's earn extra by helping out in these camps. I've helped in an English camp once but it was in winter. Most activities are indoors but I still enjoyed helping out. I bet summer camps will be more fun with more outdoor exercises. Check Gaijinpot for a summer camp position.

6. Climb Mt. Fuji!

Mt. Fuji from the train

The only thing I look forward in climbing Mt. Fuji is reaching the top. The only reason why I'm doing this is for the sake of saying I've done it! (Yeah, it's pride talking.) I think most people scale Mt. Fuji for this reason, too. Who would happily subject themselves to this exhausting venture? Most people I know who climbed it once are happy to have done it but they wouldn't be forced to go again. Good thing that I've three more friends who haven't climbed it yet so I'll have company. One of my friends will be flying all the way from Hokkaido to climb it with us.

Climbing Mt. Fuji is a popular summer activity in Japan. The Shizuoka tourism office is expecting more than a hundred thousand climbers this year especially on the Obon week- the second week of August. There are tour operators if you want to climb with a group. You can also gather a group of friends who don't mind some adventure this summer.

For more information on climbing Mt. Fuji, click here, here and here.

7. Cycle the outskirts of Hamamatsu

Cycling has become my favorite summer activity since I discovered how lovely summer nights are around my neighborhood. For the past two weeks, I've been cycling almost every night. This gave me an idea to spend 3 or 4 days cycling around the outskirts of Hamamatsu. (Actually, I've originally planned to cycle around Shizuoka prefecture but I think that's too ambitious!) Though I've been in Hamamatsu for almost two years, I still haven't seen a lot of places because of transportation issues. I should have thought of cycling sooner.

Safe roads for cycling is one of the best things about Japan. Anyone can do it in whatever part of Japan. I know a couple who cycled around Shikoku for a few days. They said it was lots of fun until the guy toppled over his bicycle. It wasn't anyone's fault but him. Be careful is what I'm saying.


I'll end this list here. I think it's more than enough to fill my summer vacation. If I add more, I might not have the time again to write.

Happy summer!

I Love Safe Roads!

K- Car in Japan

The Japanese are probably the most careful drivers in the world. For more than two years I'm in Japan,

• I've rarely heard drivers use their horns. 
• I've never seen a road accident. 
• Drivers have always given way to me when I ride my bike or walk.

These are all good changes for someone from Manila- a city of blasting horns, daily road accidents and drivers pushing their way through traffic. 

I've never felt safer on the road than here in Japan. So safe that I've become confident riding my bicycle on high ways even at night, walk on narrow streets (because streets in Japan are all narrow), and drive in a foreign country. 

I've wondered about this carefulness. I've wondered too why drivers in the Philippines can't be more like these Japanese drivers. The Philippines has wider roads and less traffic lights. There are also more traffic officers on the road. Still, safe is the last word I'll use to describe the roads in the Philippines. 

I think what makes Japanese drivers careful are two things- Education and the Sense of Privilege.

Teaching Road Safety

When I say education, I didn't mean it in an awe-inspiring and fist-pounding kind. It's education in a simple and non-fussy way. 

Every year, schools have a Traffic Education session. The traffic police would visit the schools to demonstrate the proper use of bicycles. They also hold small lectures on road safety. They show a video of the few accidents that happen in Japan. 

Also, not all students are permitted to ride bicycles. Students who live further and can properly use their bicycles are the only ones who can ride to schools. They are this strict with bicycles so you can imagine how much more if it's a car.

In the Philippines, the only lesson I can remember about traffic is the use of stoplight. And I tell you, I don't think a lot of people understand traffic lights in the Philippines. 

Driving is a Privilege

I will suppose that the Japanese see driving as a privilege. Getting a driver's license in Japan is heartbreakingly difficult. Foreigners needing licenses take months to prepare for the driving test. Even Japanese have a hard time getting a license. 

A friend told me how surprised he was to see adult Japanese men crying because they failed the driving test. On the flip side, he was also surprised to see how happy people are when they pass the test. It was like winning the lottery. The driver's offices in Japan must be an emotional place. 

Because of the difficulty of getting a license, the Japanese don't take it for granted. Their driver's license is something they've worked for, studied for and maybe even prayed for. They don't want to lose it to some nonsense on the road. 

I've heard a story why Filipinos have the hardest time getting a Japanese driver's permit. It was said that a Filipina who was applying a permit in Tokyo mentioned how easy it is to get a license in the Philippines. She even said that sometimes, we just pay the office that grants license. Because of her tactlessness (and stupidity), Japan are strict with Filipino drivers. (Well, I think Japan is strict with everyone.)

Whether this story is true or not, there's some truth in what she said. Driver's licenses are given like pancakes in the Philippines. As long as you have two arms and legs, you can have a license.

I Wish, I Wish, I Just Wish...

I wish there'd be more educated drivers in the Philippines like here in Japan. Driving is more than just knowing how to drive. It's also about knowing when to stop driving to avoid accidents and give way to pedestrians. Driving is not all green lights but also reds and yellows. 

I wish driving licenses in the Philippines wouldn't be granted like a soda bought in the nearby sari-sari store. A driver's license is a LICENSE like how professionals use their license as a proof of their professional capabilities. 

And I just wish I'd still be alive when...

• Drivers back home would rarely use their horns. 
• A road accident in the Philippines would be an unusual case. 
• Filipino drivers would give way to pedestrians and to each other. 

And of course, I still hope to ride my bike back home without the fear of being hit (and of being mugged).

More on Driving in Japan: 

Driving in Japan: Passing the Japanese Driver's Test

Getting A Driver's License in Japan

Japanese Driver's License

How to Get a Driver's License in Japan- Part 1

How to Get a Driver's License in Japan-Part 2

Happy 2nd Year To Me!

credit: http://www.oocities.org/honey-pig/Dora_Postcards.html

Yesterday marked my second year in Japan. Time seemed to have flown fast from that day when my feet landed at Narita Airport. On that day, my life was packed in two big suitcases along with my family's and friends' prayers and love in my heart. These two suitcases helped me start my life here. The love and the prayers helped me survive. I'll go back with more than two suitcases. I'll go back with more than who I was two years ago.

Living abroad, away from the familiar and the comfortable tested my character and values. I learned more about myself than all the other years in my life combined.


I learned that...

1. I'm better than I expected.

Coming here to Japan made me discover things about myself. I'm not as shy as I think I was. I've discovered how sociable and tolerant I can be. I'm not a bad cook as I thought I was. I can actually rustle a great meal for friends, especially. I'm not as dependent of others as I thought I was. I can be happy living alone, going places alone, eating alone and even watching a movie alone. I can do things on my own and find enjoyment in it! My job uncovered a creative side I never thought I have. I'm more faithful to my boyfriend than I thought I was. Distance did not diminish how I feel for him but it just made the heart grew fonder. And I realized that I know more about the world than I thought. I have more common sense than I thought.

2. Money is not as important as I think it was. 

Money is my main reason for coming here. I'm earning 5 times (or more) than I what I used to earn in the Philippines. I thought I could do this job for a long time for the money but I don't think my soul will thrive. Being an ALT is fun for a time but I don't think I'm supposed to this forever. There is more out there. Maybe not more for my pocket but more for my heart and soul. After this year, I'm ready to face the MORE for my heart and soul. Money is important but it can't buy a lot of things.

3. Home can be anywhere in the world. 

When I first came to Japan, I'd consider the Philippines as my home. My family is there. My boyfriend is there. My friends are there. My life is there. Or so I thought. But when I visited in March last year, I also missed my friends here. I also look forward to going back, it's crazy. Japan is my home too. You know the saying, "Home is where the of  heart is,"? Well, a part of my heart is in the Philippines and the other part in Japan. Where I am loved, I think that is home. I am loved in the Philippines and I am loved in Japan.

4. God provides. Always. 

If somebody asked me the greatest experience I have living in Japan, I'd say that it pushed me closer to God. It made me see how His grace and favor in my life. It made me feel loved more than ever. Just when I decided to go abroad, Japan suddenly opened its doors to Filipino English teachers. I roamed around Japan in my first three months because of work but leisure was also included. All my travel expenses were paid. This is not common for ALT's. I was eventually assigned in a nice place- not as big as Tokyo to be expensive but not as rural as other places for me to be lonely. God even surrounded me with a real nice group of friends who love to travel and who want to grow in faith.

Not only God provided me with my tangible needs but He has given me immeasurable things. He has given me creativity to do my job well. I can't believe how I was able to conceive the classroom activities I do here. He has comforted me in times of loneliness. He has allowed me to help others. He strengthened me in my sickness. (God knows how many times I complained about my back). He guarded my heart from temptations. He has given me that peace that I'll survive Japan. I'm surviving life here in Japan because of His faithfulness.

Knowing that God provides for ALL I need is empowering. It helped me realize how He led me into this country and how I need not be afraid to also go. God's provision is not only limited to Japan. Wherever I am, God will provide my needs like He always did. I'm not anymore scared to give up the comfortable lifestyle I got used to here. Living and working in Japan has been great but it's also just another season of my life that I should learn to slowly let go.

As I usher in my 3rd and last year in this place, my heart is expectant that this is going to be the best year of my life in Japan. I'm two years wiser and two years better!

Wanted: Cheaper Leo Palace in Hamamatsu

I'm currently looking for a new apartment. However, the confusing rental system in Japan is making my search unnecessarily difficult. Not only the search is difficult but also the moving out and everything in between.

Now the reason why I want to find a new place is to cut back expenses. I have a 2-year leasing contract with my current Leo Palace Apartment. It will expire in August. If I want to renew my contract, I have to pay 20,000 Yen Contract Renewal Fee plus 20,000+ Yen Fire Insurance. That's already 40,000 Yen, almost a month worth of rent. A smarter thing to do, I think, is find a cheaper Leo Palace apartment so I don't have to pay the contract renewal and the fire insurance.

My plan sounds perfect except for frustrating things about Leo Palace. Here are some of them.

1. You can't reserve an apartment for a month. 

I emailed Leo Palace's customer service last Saturday. I was asking for assistance in finding a cheaper apartment around Hamamatsu Station. The representative replied quickly with three choices. I like one of the choices and emailed back that I'm interested to see one of the apartments. The rep set an appointment for Monday.

Monday came and the staff said that the apartment was already taken. She said I should have reserved it ASAP because it was a good deal. This annoyed me. Why wasn't I told about it? Why set an appointment when they're already keen on renting it out to a different person?

Not only my time wasted but they also informed me that once I selected an apartment I should move within a week. They can't hold it for a longer period of time. I looked at the rep frustratingly with the word SERIOUSLY? written on my face. In essence, once a new apartment is available, I should grab it and pay for it though I wouldn't use it yet. Because...

2. You can't leave your current apartment without a month's notice. 

The reason why I can't move within a week is it is also Leo Palace's policy to give a month's notice before a leasing contract's termination. The rep said that they need time to schedule the apartment check. I can only sigh with her reason. What if there's an emergency and the tenant just needs to leave? And can't they just check it without the tenant? So much fuss, I think. I don't know the rental system in other countries but in the Philippines, you can leave in less than a month.

3. Rental prices are not stable.

This is the most unreasonable thing of all. I asked if there are available apartments in the same building where the rep saw a cheaper apartment. I assumed that since it's the same building, there would be little differences in the price. For some unknown reason, units at Leo Palace have different rental prices. There was a unit in the same building on the same floor but the price is 5000 Yen more expensive. It doesn't make sense!

Not only that, depending on the time you'll move, prices can differ greatly too. So the rep said, if I move in now I'll pay 10,000 Yen cheaper than when I move in a week or a month after. What the heck! It doesn't make sense at all. Will something happen to the apartment in  a month's time?

I left Leo Palace office accomplishing nothing. Now you may ask why I can't just find another real estate company. The reason is Leo Palace can lease their apartments without key money* and without guarantor.** If only I know other companies, I'd like to try renting with them. I think there should be more companies in small cities like Hamamatsu competing with Leo Palace. Cause their policies just don't make sense. But then, this is Japan. A lot of things don't really make sense. At least to me.

So as of this writing, I'm still looking for an apartment.

*Key money- Courtesy money given to the landlord. It's like a thank-you payment for them allowing you to use their place. Usually worth a month's rent.

**Guarantor- Someone who can vouch for you to the landlord, preferably a Japanese.

PS: I'll probably write on things that don't make sense in Japan next time.


More on Renting in Japan:

Rent an Apartment in Tokyo, Japan

Wanted: English Speakers

Just before the spring break ended, I visited Kamakura with a friend. Kamakura is this place in Kanagawa Prefecture with the biggest buddha in Japan. It's a popular tourist place since it's just near from Tokyo and Yokohama. There's also a nice island there called Enoshima with a lot of things to do. We've only seen the Great Buddha or Daibutsu though. No time to see Enoshima but people are saying great things about it.

The Great Buddha at Kamakura
(Daibutsu)

Well anyway, on our way to see Daibutsu an old Japanese man with a bicycle suddenly stopped us. We were on a crowded street so we didn't panic or felt afraid. We were just taken aback by the suddenness of his appearance in front of us.

Japanese Man:  Excuse me, can you speak English? 
My friend and I:Yes, we can. 
Japanese Man:  Okay good. 

(He reached something from his bicycle basket and handed a scrap-bookish letter to us.)

The old Japanese man's letter

He just wants to correspond with an English speaker. He said he doesn't know a lot of English speaking people here in Japan. It would have been personally creepy to me if he's younger but he's grandfatherish old so I'm more open to corresponding with him. I have yet to post my first letter to him though. I'm just thinking if it's smart to put my home address. If I don't, it would be just me sending posts. If I do, I don't think it's safe and wise. So I don't know yet.

Sakura-lined street leading to Hachimangu Shrine at Kamakura

Garden pond at Hachimangu Shrine, Kamakura

That encounter with that old man was the strangest part of the trip until we got on the train on our way home. In one of the stops, another old Japanese man with a briefcase sat beside me. He slept for the first 20 minutes while my friend and I chattered the trip away. Then, he just suddenly talked in clear perfect English.

Another old Japanese Man:    Excuse me, I have a question. 
My friend an I:                        Sure. 
Another old Japanese Man:   (Asked a question related to grammar which 
                                                               is too long to put here. )

His question is actually not a question but an anecdote. We listened to him anyway. We welcome the break from each other's endless chatter. Then from that question, my friend and I began to have a conversation with this another old Japanese man.

We learned that he lives in Shimada and that he works for Shizuoka Tourism Office. He also lived in the US for almost 15 years. He lived in Chicago and LA. He also shared that he had always love speaking in English and he even won a speech contest in Junior High School. The most interesting thing about him is that his real name was used in a James Bond book. That book hasn't been made into a movie yet but the title is Man with Red Tattoo. He's one of the main Japanese characters in that book.

The Man with the Red Tattoo cover
credit: http://www.japanreview.net/review_james_bond.htm

That man didn't stop talking to us until he reached his stop. He also handed us his business card just in case we'll drop by at Shimada or Shizuoka. He said he's happy to have met us. It's a rare chance for him to speak in English. He'll be happy to see us again. We're happy that we've made someone happy just by speaking English.  Perfect way to end the day.

Going to the Hairdresser in Japan

I can't put this off any longer. Something has to be done soon. I just can't close my eyes to this and pretend that everything will be alright. No, my hair is definitely out of shape and I already need to get a haircut!

I feel for you kid! I know exactly how you feel about your hair. ^_^
credit: http://beautyeditor.ca

I haven't visited a hairdresser in Japan for the 18 months that I was living here. Why? It's so freaking expensive! The average cost for a haircut with considerable style is 4,000 Yen. I can't help but convert it to my home currency which is equivalent to 2,000 pesos. In the Philippines, my hair would have already been permed, straightened or treated with that amount. When I came to Japan, I learned to cut and treat my own hair. (Thanks to Youtube!) But then, my hands and skills are only limited to maintaining my current hairstyle. Eventually, I just have to go to the hairdresser. No escaping it, unfortunately.

Earth Hairdressing
credit: http://blog.gappt.com/

A friend recommended a salon near AEON Ichino. It's cheaper than most salons. Cost is 2,500 Yen for a haircut. The salon's name is Earth. I think this salon is a chain cause I remember seeing a similar one around Hamamatsu Station.

When going to the hairdresser in Japan...

1. Make reservations. 
Thankfully, my friend did this for me. She was also going to have a haircut so she was the one who called the salon. Making reservations is better than walking in. If the salon is full, you'll have to wait for a vacancy if you just walked in. Also, some salons are by appointments only. The staff in Earth salon has limited English skills. You might want to ask a Japanese friend to help you make reservations. Better yet, have a Japanese-speaking person go with you.

2. Don't take the prices at face value
My friend and I thought that the 2,500 Yen was all that we're going to pay. That's how it is in our home countries. (She's from the UK.) Then a personnel handed us a list of stylists with their rankings. Aside from the 2500, we have to pay our stylist. The highest costs 2,500 Yen while the lowest was 500 Yen. We both got the lowest. I personally find this weird. If we're the paying the stylist with additional fee, what's the 2500 Yen for? The cheap shampoo? The chair we sat on? The cup of tea served which I didn't ask? The bag locker which is not necessary? I don't know. It just doesn't make sense to me. But anyway, make sure you have additional cash with you.

My first visit to a Japanese hairdresser

3. Take a picture of the hairstyle you want  
I anticipated that explaining the hairstyle I want would be problematic so I took a picture of what I exactly wanted. It was a big help cause I didn't have to explain anything. I just pointed at the picture and told him "Onagi, onegaishimasu" (The same, please.) Saved us time!

This is the picture I've shown.
credit: http://haircutsall.blogspot.jp/2013/08/hairstyle-with-side-bangs.html

4. Relax and enjoy
Because this is a Japanese salon, customer service was superb. My friend and I were tentative at first but the staff was courteous and helpful. As soon as we walked in the salon, somebody helped me with my coat, somebody kept my umbrella for me, somebody served us with tea and somebody helped us keep our bags in a locker. It was royalty treatment.

After that, we were led to our seats. Then we had to fill up a form with our names, address, telephone number and birthday. (I don't know what they're going to do with that info.) They're helpful enough to explain to me what info should I write in what box. We were then asked to choose our stylist. Shampoo came afterwards then the haircut, finally!

Honestly, I find the whole experience long. I just need a simple haircut which would normally take less than an hour back in the Philippines. It took about almost 2 hours here in Japan. I don't know why. My friend said that we should just enjoy the whole thing. It's not often that we go to the salon here.

Selfie with my new hair.
I think the stylist got it right. 

So after almost two hours, I got out of the salon feeling like a new person. I liked my shorter hair. The staff waved us off goodbye as if we're friends. Never mind the money and the minutes, a girl has to feel beautiful sometimes!


PS: On my way home, I met two friends. I told them I went to the salon. They asked me how much I paid. When they learned about it, they told me there's a cheaper salon in a nearer place with English-speaking staff. I stopped them from more elaboration cause it would ruin my experience. I'll just give it a try next time.


See Related Articles on Japanese Hair Salons: 

How To: Find a Hair Salon in Japan

Visiting Hair Salon in Tokyo

Japan Goal: Hair Salons

Mysteries of the Hair Salon Revealed

O-Hanami, How Lovely and Filling!

One of the "must-do" things before you leave in Japan is go hanami. At least, this is what my Japanese friend told me. She said my Japan experience is not complete if I haven't gone hanami even just once. Doesn't matter whatever cultural things I've done here. I just got to do hanami to have a total Japan experience.

People doing Hanami at Ueno Park

So what is hanami? Hanami literally means flower (hana) watching (mi). In reality, it means having a picnic, a feast, a drinking party, under the cherry blossoms in spring. Cherry blossoms or sakura only blooms for a week or two. They have a short and sweet life. Because of this, the Japanese celebrate their blooming season. Tourism offices all over Japan actually monitor when the flowers will bloom. Somebody told me that cherry blossom season is the peak season of tourism in Japan. It's not surprising cause the cherry blossoms are utterly beautiful.

my friend under a very pink sakura tree

When you decide to go hanami, it's best to bring...

1. Food and drinks
Eating is the main activity in hanami. Hanami would be plain sightseeing if you don't have food.

2. Picnic blanket
Unless you want to sit on the ground. Usually, hanami grounds are not grassy so don't expect you'll be comfortable without picnic blankets.

food + friends = perfect hanami 

3. Camera
The cherry blossoms are just so lovely. Capture their loveliness with your camera.

Isn't it lovely?

4. Sense of fun!
Forget about work for awhile and just admire the beauty around you. Have fun with the company you're with. Hanami only happens once a year.


There are designated places for Hanami all over Japan. In Hamamatsu, the Castle Park is the most convenient place to have hanami. Get out and see the sakura! Hanami season ends on the 6th (in Hamamatsu).


More on Hanami:

Hanami

Hanami: Cherry Blossoms and Revelry in Japan

Hanami: The Cherry Blossoms Festival Welcomes Spring

Hanami: Unique Japanese Tradition

Sakura and Hanami

Repost: In Remembrance of March 11

A year ago, I was given the chance to publish an article on the March 11 2011 Japan Earthquake. I'm reposting the article for the people who lost their lives, people who have lost loved-ones and people who had the courage to move-on. 

Reference: http://www.tokyomorningstar.com/in-remembrance-of-march-11/

In Remembrance of March 11

Written By Faye Vitan

Posted about 363 days ago | 0 comment

There was a great tsunami that caused nuclear meltdowns. Thousands of people died, became missing and lost their properties. The earthquake that shocked the world with its tremendous damage is also the same quake that paved the way for me to be in Japan.  Hundreds of ALT’s flee Japan after this quake leaving a large need for teachers. I heard that a lot of Americans and British were not too happy to work here. Because of that, Japan opened its doors to Filipino English teachers. I was one of the first batches of these teachers. The grueling process of application and paperwork took me a year to finally come to Japan in June 2012.

Maybe it wasn’t a coincidence that my first teaching assignment was in Iwate in the Tohoku region. It is one of the most affected places of the March 11 earthquake. I was expecting washed out lands and tin houses as I saw in the news. I was half-prepared for sad and devastated people. But when I arrived there, it was so much better than I expected.

Most of the area that I’ve been to in Iwate showed works-in-progress. Sure there were places that would need a lot of work but I am amazed how Japan was able to recover so quickly. This is especially true when I compared it with how my country, the Philippines, is taking decades just to eradicate the slums area. I was impressed with Japan’s determination to rebuild just a year after the earthquake when in my country it takes painstakingly long years just to recover from a flood. A flood’s devastation seems to be nothing compared to an earthquake, a tsunami and an ongoing nuclear meltdown.

I told one of my Filipino friends about this and she defended the Philippines saying that our country is poor. Before coming to Japan, I thought the same thing. Now, I don’t think that the Philippines is poor. We are poor because we think that way. We think we need the help of other countries to be progressive. We think we need aid for every disaster that happens every year. We think we have so little compared to Japan when in reality Japan and the Philippines are in the same region where earthquakes, typhoons, floods and volcanic eruptions can happen anytime.

I think there is more to why Japan rebuilds so quickly. I know a lot of countries came to their aid, sent help and prayed for their recovery. The Philippines also experienced those during Ondoy, during the flashfloods in the South, even as far back as during the Pinatubo eruption. There is just something more in Japan that I believe the Philippines should learn from. I don’t know what they are but I can point out one- the people.

When I arrived in Iwate, I wasn’t really expecting much from the people there. They lost a lot while I gained something with it. To expect more seems to be rather selfish of me. So I admire them even more when I saw how they accepted the things that happened, how they try move on and support each other in the process.

In one of the high schools I worked in, a lot of students lost their parents. Within a month, they were placed in homes where they can be taken care of. Schools and work resumed. All of the schools I’ve been to acknowledged the disaster and placed an area in remembrance of it. Students posted messages and words of encouragement. Areas who were not so much affected gave immediate aid to those who were in need. Various prefectures in Japan, until now, provide financial support to those who would like to transfer to another place. The Filipinos are also like these-to some degree. But what I think we fail to understand as Filipinos is that rebuilding lives is a process with tons of hard work. The Japanese just don’t quickly help then forget about it. They remember it acknowledging that a lot of work must be put into it. I hope the Filipinos would also care as much and help as much. I hope Filipinos understand that rebuilding, recovery and, ultimately, progress is a process not undertaken by a few concerned individual but as a nation. It might sound cliché but I have seen how this collective effort worked. No matter how great the March 11 earthquake was, the unity of the Japanese is even greater.

As great and dark the shadow of the March 11 Earthquake is, I am one of its tiniest light. I was given higher odds to get a job here. I am not saying I am thankful that it happened; just that I am thankful I am here. As I build a better life here, I pray that victims of the March 11 Earthquake will soon have a better life too. 

Seeing a Doctor in Japan: Don't Get Sick on a Weekend

The ambulance service in Japan is pretty fast. You'll probably get immediate help in whatever emergency. The problem would be the hospitals. Unlike in most countries, hospitals in Japan (in Hamamatsu, at least) seem to shut down on weekends.

Surviving Winter in Japan

So it's almost winter again. The bone-chilling coldness is already in the air. I can't believe I can still go to school and cycle in this temperature. Actually, I can't believe that I survived the winter last year. Coming from a tropical country with an all-year summer temperature, I'm not looking forward to winter. All I can think about is how cold it is. Heck, all my conversations are all centered on how cold it is. And all I do is to make sure I won't die from "how cold it is."

Since this would be my second winter, I'd list down the things I learned from the first winter. As I mentioned, I came from a warm country so even living through the winter is a learning experience. What I learned are mostly things that the Japanese thankfully created to combat the coldness.

1. Hooray for Heattech! 

Heattech Clothing
photo credit: http://www.thestylishtraveler.com/2011/02/uniqlo-heattech-heat-generating-clothing/

Dressing up is a major task during winter. Layers of clothes need to be worn (and washed). For the first layer (the one touching the skin) there's what they call HEATTECH clothes. They have heattech long-sleeved shirts, heattech long underwears, heattech slacks and heattech stockings. I was skeptical when I first buy them last year. They seem so thin but boy, do they really work! I feel warmer and more comfortable. Even the heattech stockings do work. It's the reason how Japanese women can survive the winter wearing the shortest shorts.

Heattech clothings can be bought at Uniqlo and other stores.

2. Small things make a difference with KAIRO

Kairo in different sizes
photo credit: http://www.thejapanguy.com/how-to-stay-warm-during-a-japanese-winter-part-1-enter-the-kairo/

Last winter, I noticed how most students would jam their hands in their pockets. I thought it was to keep warm. I do that all the time though it's considered rude in the Japanese culture. I can't help it. My hands were freezing. Then the students showed me the "magic thing" nestling in their pocket. It's the Kairo! 

Kairo is just basically a disposable hot pack. It comes in various sizes and can even be bought at 100 Yen shops for about 10-20 pieces. You just place it in your pocket, hold it, touch it, squeeze it or whatever you want to do with it to feel warm. Just don't eat it, please. So during winter, buying Kairo packs has become a hobby.

3. Under the Kotatsu

Kotatsu
photo credit: http://www.hellotokyo.jp/2011/01/18/kotatsu-a-unique-electronic-heater-in-japan/

Because of the winter chill, I stay at home most of the time. I now understand why bears just want to hibernate during winter time. Only fools would want to subject themselves to this harsh weather.Humans, I think are not the smartest then. So anyway, one of the Japanese-ish things to use on winter is the kotatsu. It's a low table with a heater underneath so you can warm your feet and legs. It feels really comfortable that you wouldn't want to move. Place some food on the table along with your laptop then you'll the warmest winter day!

4. Time for Heater Fans and Humidifiers 

my 800 Yen heater

I don't have a kotatsu, sadly. What I do have is a heater. This is aside from the one in the airconditioner. I wasn't planning to buy one but my air conditioner does not reach the kitchen area. Instead of starving myself or just simple making myself unhealthy with prepacked food, I bought a heater with incandescent bulbs. For only 800 Yen from a recycle shop, I can be warm even in the kitchen or even when I do my thing in the toilet.

5. Thanks to the Warm Toilet Seat

toilet seat
photo credit: http://chuhichic.blogspot.jp/2009/04/japanese-loo-experience.html

For some reason, the coldest part of my apartment in winter is the toilet. It's almost a punishment to sit and do my daily body-detoxifying task. My bum burns from the cold. One of my friends showed how my sacrifices are worthless. My toilet bowl actually has a warmer if I've only pushed the right buttons. I can have warm seat and warm water. If you're toilet bowl does not have them, you can simply buy toilet seat cover and that would keep you warm.

I know I have no choice but to go through and survive winter. At least, I know better now even before the actual winter starts. I'm all ready!

Sayonara to a Friend

A close friend here will soon be leaving for the US. She has been having perpetual backaches which no doctor here have figured out why. Though she doesn't want to go with an unfinished contract, the discomfort she feels forces her to leave. Just last weekend, we already started packing some of her things. She's not happy to leave. I'm not happy to see her leave, too. But that's how things are for foreigners.

My friendship with her made me realize another aspect of living in a foreign land.

Credits: http://www.goodlightscraps.com/friendship.php

I realized that friendships are more consciously decided. When two foreigners meet, there's almost always that back-of-the-mind thought whether they can be friends or not. Of course, there's tentativeness in every type of relationship but being in a foreign land makes that 'testing period' shorter. This is unlike in you're in your home country when friendships are made by fate or chance meetings. The first few times that my friend and I talked, there's already that silent agreement that we have decided to become friends. We didn't leave our friendship to chance. We decided to pursue it. Hence, the next realization.

Friendships are also more actively pursued. The loneliness from living in another country draw foreigners together. Plans to get together are frequent and almost a habit. We don't wait for someone's birthday or a special day to meet. We find reasons to do something together. This is almost like a marker of the weeks passed in this foreign land. I can't remember a week spent without seeing another foreigner. My friend is one of my regular weekend buddies. We'd usually eat somewhere or explore some area. Come January, I won't have a weekend buddy.

I feel that friendships are deeper and more expressively caring. Foreigners know that all we have is each other for families. Only people from another country can understand the isolation and the constant adjustment of foreigners. Hence, there's that unspoken concern for the welfare of another foreigner. This is not to say that all foreigners are kind and caring. This is about foreigners who are already friends. I remember the night when I helped my friend go to the doctor. I wouldn't normally do that if I were back home. I can't be bothered at night. But knowing that my friend is alone as I am, I didn't have hesitations to go that extra mile.

At the same time, we know that no matter how good our friendship is, it's only temporary. We know that things will change once we're back to our home countries. It makes everything more intense and bittersweet. Though there's that temporal quality in friendships abroad, it doesn't make it less sincere. It doesn't make it less of anything. It's just the way things are. So though it's sad to see my friend go, we both know that sooner or later we'll be parting ways. It's just sad that it seemed so soon.

I don't know if we'll meet again in person. I don't know if we'll even keep in touch. I've seen a handful of friends leave promising to still communicate but didn't. I don't hold it against them. (I'm also guilty.) I also won't hold it against my friend if I didn't hear anything from her after she leaves. I'm already grateful that even for a short while, a person from halfway around the world became my friend.

Facial Snail: Snails as Beauty Treatment

Beauty products in Japan never cease to amaze me. From wide range of whitening products to fake eyelashes. From various sunscreens to just about any kind of product to beautify almost all body parts. And now, snails are also hoping to make its way to the health and beauty section. Not sure if I'm for it or not. It's interesting, though. 

Reference: http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/snails-face-beauty-treatment-offers-slime-power

Snails face: Beauty treatment offers slime power

 16 )

Snails crawl on the face of a woman, as part of a new beauty treatment at a beauty salon in Tokyo, on July 13, 2013AFP

TOKYO —

Having live snails crawling on your face sounds like the thing of nightmares, but in Japan one company is hoping people will be prepared to pay for it.

Women who want to slough off dead skin, clear their pores or roll back the years can submit themselves to five minutes of molluscs.

“Slime from snails helps remove old cells, heal the skin after sun burn and moisturise it,” said Manami Takamura, a spokeswoman for Tokyo-based beauty salon Ci:z.Labo, as she placed three gastropods on a woman’s face.

“In this way, you can have 100% pure snail essence directly on the skin.”

Snail slime is believed to have an anti-aging effect on human skin, and some cosmetics are already sold with essence of escargot.

But Ci:z.Labo beauty salon is going one step further in what it says is the first live snail treatment in Japan.

As part of the salon’s “Celebrity Escargot Course” customers will get five minutes of snail therapy, along with massage and other facial treatments.

The snails alone cost 10,500 yen. Sayaka Ito said she had found the treatment so relaxing that she had almost fallen asleep.

“You can feel the snails moving on your face. At first, it is surprising, but it’s actually rather nice,” she said. “My skin really does feel smooth and moist.”